Advanced Placement Summer Institutes

Language & Composition

We are not able to hold the Language & Composition workshop during the summer of 2012.  Sorry!

Advanced Placement Language & Composition
High School Teacher Workshop
July 9 to July 13, 2007
Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana

Instructor: Carol Reeves, Associate Professor of English at Butler University
Ph.D., Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas; Rhetoric and Composition
M.A., Texas Tech University, Lubbock,Texas; American Literature
B.A., Texas Tech University

Guest instructor: Bill Watts, Associate Professor of English at Butler University
Ph.D., Boston University
M.A., Boston University
B.A., Carleton College

Course Objectives

This AP Workshop will provide instruction in all the areas of prose analysis and production--invention, argument, arrangement, and style--providing critical terminology and analytical strategies that will be useful to students in AP classes. Tips on teaching composition, on preparing students to take the AP exam, and on AP grading criteria will also be offered. Participants will have several opportunities to exchange good teaching techniques.

Course Requirements

  1. Class participation in individual writing and group exercises
  2. Overnight reading
  3. Develop an appropriate closing project (not something you have already done)to present to the rest of the class on Friday. Limit your presentation to ten minutes.
  4. Bring your good teaching strategies to share with others.

Course Schedule

Sunday - Overnight reading: Read through AP booklets on course design, teaching writing

Monday - Morning
Introductions
AP exam

Monday - Afternoon
AP exam
Professor Bill Watts, AP Grader, will discuss criteria and grading procedures

Monday - Overnight reading: pp. 5-22 (don't do exercises until class)

Tuesday - Morning
Analyzing Prose: The Appeals

Tuesday - Afternoon
Analyzing Prose: The Appeals
Analyzing Prose: Arguments
Ways to teach students to employ appeals and arguments
Idea Swap

Tuesday - Overnight reading: pp. 32-70 (don't do exercises until class)

Wednesday - Morning
Analyzing arguments

Wednesday - Afternoon
Analyzing arguments
Analyzing Style
Ways to teach students to improve their style
Select Friday Presentation topic
Idea Swap

Wednesday - Overnight reading: pp. 74-103 (don't do exercises until class)

Thursday - Morning
Analyzing Style

Thursday - Afternoon
Analyzing Arrangement
Ways to teach students to organize
Idea Swap

Friday - Morning
Presentations